Methods for generating new hair follicles, treating baldness, and hair removal

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of treating baldness in a subject and generating new hair follicles, comprising epidermal disruption and administration of a compound that promotes a differentiation of an uncorαmitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell. The present invention also provides methods for hair removal and inducing hair pigmentation.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method for generating a hair follicle in a scalp, eyebrow, or scarred region of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) disrupting an epidermis of said scalp, eyebrow, or scarred region; and   (b) contacting the disrupted scalp, eyebrow, or scarred region with a cell, a compound or a factor that promotes a differentiation of an uncommitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell,   thereby generating a hair follicle in a scalp, eyebrow, or scarred region of a subject.   
     
     
         39 . A method for treating an androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in a scalp, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) disrupting an epidermis of said scalp; and   (b) contacting the disrupted scalp with a cell, a compound or a factor that promotes a differentiation of an uncommitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell,   thereby treating AGA in a scalp.   
     
     
         40 . A method for increasing a size of a hair follicle in a scalp, eyebrow, or scarred region of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) disrupting an epidermis of said scalp, eyebrow, or scarred region; and   (b) contacting said scalp, eyebrow, or scarred region with a cell, a compound or a factor that promotes a differentiation of an uncommitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell,   thereby increasing a size of a hair follicle in a scalp, eyebrow, or scarred region of a subject.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , whereby said compound or factor that promotes a differentiation of an uncommitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell is an Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), an inhibitor of an EGF receptor or both. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , whereby said inhibitor of an EGF receptor is AG1478, panitumumab, nimotuzumab, HuMax EGFR, cetuximab, IMC 11F8, matuzumab, SC 100, ALT 110, PX 1032, BMS 599626, MDX 214, or PX 1041. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , whereby said compound or factor that promotes a differentiation of an uncommitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell is an inhibitor of a tyrosine kinase activity of an Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) receptor. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , whereby said inhibitor of a tyrosine kinase activity of an EGF receptor is gefitinib, erlotinib, canertinib, pelitinib, ZD 1839, CL 387785, EKI 785, leflunomide, A77 1726 or vandetanib. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38 , whereby said compound or factor that promotes a differentiation of an uncommitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell is a β-catenin protein, a nucleotide encoding a β-catenin protein, an activator of a β-catenin protein, or an inhibitor of a protein that suppresses an activity of a β-catenin protein. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , whereby said activator of a β-catenin protein is a Wnt7 protein, a nucleotide encoding a Wnt7 protein, or an activator of a Wnt7 protein. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 38 , whereby said compound or factor that promotes a differentiation of an uncommitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell is a fibroblast growth factor (FGF) protein, an FGF receptor, a nucleotide encoding an FGF protein or FGF receptor, an activator of an FGF protein or FGF receptor, an inhibitor of a protein that suppresses an activity of an FGF protein or FGF receptor, an ectodysplasin protein, an ectodysplasin receptor, a nucleotide encoding an ectodysplasin protein or ectodysplasin receptor, an activator of an ectodysplasin protein or ectodysplasin receptor, an inhibitor of a protein that suppresses an activity of an ectodysplasin protein or ectodysplasin receptor, a Noggin protein, a nucleotide encoding a Noggin protein, an activator of a Noggin protein, a Hedgehog protein, a nucleotide encoding a Hedgehog protein, or an activator of a Hedgehog protein. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 38 , whereby said compound or factor that promotes a differentiation of an uncommitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell is a Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-beta1 protein, a nucleotide encoding a TGF-beta1 protein, an activator of a TGF-beta1 protein, a TGF-beta3 protein, a nucleotide encoding a TGF-beta3 protein, or an activator of a TGF-beta3 protein. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 38 , whereby said compound or factor that promotes a differentiation of an uncommitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell is an antagonist of a Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-beta1 protein or an antagonist of a TGF-beta3 protein. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 38 , whereby said compound or factor that promotes a differentiation of an uncommitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell acts directly on said uncommitted epidermal cell. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 38 , whereby said compound or factor that promotes a differentiation of an uncommitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell acts on said uncommitted epidermal cell via a mesenchymal cell. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 38 , whereby the cell is a precursor cell that is capable of differentiation into a hair follicle cell; an inductive cell that is capable of inducing differentiation of an uncommitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell; or a hair follicle or portion thereof. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , whereby the step of contacting is performed 3-12 days after the step of disrupting. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , whereby said precursor is selected from a hair follicle stem cell, an epidermal cell, a dermal papilla cell, or a connective tissue sheath cell. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising the step of depilating. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising the step of administering a topical retinoid, a compound that suppresses an expression of a Wnt protein, an antagonist of an androgen, or an antagonist of an androgen receptor. 
     
     
         57 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 38 , whereby the step of disrupting comprises a disruption of a follicle of said epidermis or a disruption of an interfollicular region of said epidermis. 
     
     
         64 - 65 . (canceled)